RESEARCH ARTICLE
A new species of damselfish
(Chromis: Pomacentridae) from Papua New Guinea
Gerald R. Allen & Mark
V. Erdmann
Abstract
A new species
of pomacentrid fish, Chromis howsoni, is described
from 24 specimens, 30.7-56.2 mm SL, collected
in 17-20 m at Milne Bay and Oro Provinces, Papua
New Guinea. Diagnostic features include usual counts
of XII,12 dorsal rays; II,12 anal rays; 15-16
pectoral rays; 2 spiniform caudal rays; 13 tubed lateral-line
scales; body depth 1.6-1.8 (usually 1.7) in SL.
The new taxon is closely allied to Chromis amboinensis,
differing mainly on the basis of colour pattern and
a slightly shorter caudal peduncle (length 2.3-2.9
versus 1.8-2.3 in head length). It is distinguished
by an overall yellowish brown colour, yellow pelvic
fins, and yellow areas posteriorly on the dorsal and
anal fins. In contrast, C. amboinensis is overall
brownish grey with white pelvic fins, and whitish
or translucent areas posteriorly on the dorsal and
anal fins. The two species occur sympatrically in
Papua New Guinea, but exhibit marked habitat partitioning,
with C. howsoni the only species present in
sheltered coastal inlets and C. amboinensis
vastly outnumbering C. howsoni on outer exposed
reefs.
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CITATION:
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann,
M.V. (2014) A new species of damselfish (Chromis:
Pomacentridae) from Papua New Guinea. Journal of
the Ocean Science Foundation, 11, 13-22.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1044523
publication date: 12 June
2014
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